According to ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin, the New York Mets have hired former MLB outfielder Tom Goodwin as their first base coach to replace Mets fan favorite Mookie Wilson.

Goodwin played in the majors for 14 seasons with the Dodgers, Royals, Rangers, Cubs, Rockies, and Giants and was most recently the Red Sox's minor league outfield and base-running coordinator. He will be responsible for teaching those areas in his position with the Mets.

The move fills out the Mets' coaching staff for the 2012 season and it's a good thing that general manager Sandy Alderson got it out of the way early so the club can worry about more important signings, especially players in the free-agent market.

The proactive signing from Alderson and the rest of his staff is a sign of good-things-to-come with the Mets which is a far cry from the team's last GM, Omar Minaya, whose stint with the Mets didn't turn out so well.

The next thing for Alderson and his brain trust to figure out is the future of the two current cornerstones of the organization, free agent shortstop Jose Reyes and third baseman David Wright who is under contract for one more season.